Something you won't see often: Boston Red Sox left fielder Jacoby Ellsbury misses a catch in a game against the Baltimore Orioles.AP Photo/Elise Amendola

How You Can Make Jacoby Ellsbury an All-Star

June 12, 2008

By Dalton Walker

Coco Crisp.

Who? I think I ate that for breakfast, one might say.

All kidding aside, Major League Baseball made a mistake, a big mistake in my book.

Or perhaps, it was the Boston Red Sox's fault.

Crisp, a veteran outfielder for the Sox, was the third Boston outfielder placed on the 2008 All-Star ballot. Each team has three outfielders. Sluggers Manny Ramirez and J.D. Drew are the other Red Sox representatives.

Guess who wasn't on the American League All-Star ballot?

I'll give you 10 guesses, but I know you'll only need one. Our hero, Jacoby Ellsbury, is not on the ballot.

OK, breathe. Nothing's over.

We can do it up to 25 times before the FBI is called. No, not really. Twenty-five is the limit, I'm unsure why. No amount is insurmountable.

But there are ways around it. Start over. Re-register. I figure if we all sit and keep plugging in his name for at least an hour or two, we're bound to make a difference.

Voting ends July 3.

So, how has Jacoby been doing lately? Well, he tweaked his right wrist recently but is already back in the lineup. He's been sharing duties in each outfield position. He's batting a healthy .284 through 54 games with four homeruns and 22 runs batted in. Oh, and we can't forget the 28 stolen bases.

Remember, vote early and often.

* * *

In other Native baseball player news, our other hero, in Bronx, N.Y., Joba Chamberlain, recently started his second game. His first one was a little rocky, but the New York Yankee pitcher bounced back nicely like we all knew he could.

Chamberlain pitched into the fifth inning against Kansas City. He was replaced in the third inning in his first start. The Yanks won, but he didn't figure into the decision. Though he didn't pitch great, he is on a pitch count so he sits when he reaches around 70 pitches a night.

Keep an eye out for his next start. One of them is bound to be on national TV.

Time will only reveal how lethal Joba will be. With his poise and flaming right arm, along with one of the strongest batting lineups in his back pocket, Joba will be just fine.

* * *

If anyone is in Howes Cave, N.Y., stop by the Iroquois Indian Museum to see the "Baseball's League of Nations: A Tribute to Native Americans in Baseball," an exhibit that runs through Dec. 31. The New York Times wrote about the exhibit—and Native baseball players— on June 8.

"I think it's wonderful to have a place where people can go to see all the accomplishments made by those great players," Chamberlain was quoted in the story . "There's so much to learn about Native Americans in baseball, which is why I'm planning on visiting the museum once I get some free time."

Let's hope that's after the World Series.